Epilogue

‘You visiting here?’ The young woman with the long white-blonde hair and deep tan behind the counter of the art supply store smiled widely.

‘Yes.’ He nodded and reached for his wallet.

‘This your first time in LA?’

‘No, no, not my first, it’s a great place. Great weather!’ He rolled up the sleeves on his white linen shirt.

‘You find everything you need today?’

She asked a lot of questions. Or maybe it only seemed like a lot because he was in a hurry.

‘Yes, yes, thank you. I did.’

‘You making something?’ She ran her fingers over the large white sheet of card and the black marker pens.

‘I am, actually.’

‘What are you making?’ She popped a huge bubblegum bubble against her lower lip that made him wince.

He felt the spread of his blush and rubbed his face. ‘I’m making a placard. A sign.’

‘What kind of sign?’

She was incessant!

‘A ...’ He couldn’t think how best to describe it. ‘A sign to hold up – a welcome sign, or more of a hello sign. I’m not sure.’

‘Where are you going to hold it up?’

‘At the airport. In the arrivals at the airport. For someone who is landing at’ – he looked at his watch – ‘seven thirty this evening.’

He then realised it wasn’t that the woman asked a lot of questions, but rather she only asked questions.

‘Aaaw, you going to meet someone?’

‘I am, yes. Except she’s not expecting me. It’s a surprise. A big gesture and a big risk.’ He sucked air through his teeth, his nerves spilling from him.

‘She’s not expecting you?’

The way she asked this question made him question his plan. It seemed so simple in his head. He’d write the sign, turn up, hold the sign, she’d cry and they’d go and get sushi. Simple.

‘You think I should tell her I’m going to be there?’

‘Is she the kind of person who likes surprises?’

There it was, another question. She even answered a question with a question!

‘I don’t know. I think she might like this one.’ He smiled. ‘And do you know that you’ve asked me a lot of questions?’

‘Have I?’

She was – he found it hard to decide which – either an idiot or a genius.

He laughed.

‘How would you like to pay?’ She smiled sweetly.

‘What are my options?’ He folded his arms. Two could play at this game.

‘Cash or card?’

‘Card.’ He handed his over; she was clearly much better at this than he.

‘What are you going to write on your placard?’

‘A huge thumbs-up. That’s it. Just a huge thumbs-up.’

‘Will she know what it means?’ She handed him the slip of paper, transaction complete.

‘I hope so.’ He gathered his card and pens.

‘What does it mean?’ She folded her arms, her voice a little quieter now, curious.

He took a deep breath. ‘It means that from the first time I saw her across the boardroom in the meeting at Field and Grey, she has lived in my thoughts. It means that when I had lunch with her and she sat opposite me and wolfed down her food and made me laugh, I felt myself falling for her. It means that no matter what her past holds, or how many times she thinks she has messed up, or what she may or not be capable of, I am far more interested in the future. In our future. It means that if she has one child or ten, we will find a way to make it work. It means I have never felt this way about anyone, ever, and I want to progress to a second date and take her to an island where even if you took me there blindfolded, I’d know it by the scent alone.’ He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘The pine forests, the rosemary and thyme that’s abundant, ripe mandarins, the woody-scented bark of the olive trees, eucalyptus leaves and all underpinned with the fragrant incense and oils from the church, that is like nothing else. I want to take her there and hold her tight. It means I think we have a shot. That’s what it means.’

He looked at the woman who stared at him with misty eyes, clearly moved by his declaration. He could only hope that Madeleine might be similarly affected. He had also won. She had no final question and this made him smile as he grabbed his wares and prepared to head off to the airport to meet Madeleine’s flight.

‘You’re a nice man. A really nice man. Can you close the door behind you?’

Nico turned and laughed loudly.

‘Yep.’